SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — Volvo Rents continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of Palmetto Equipment Sales and Rentals, a two-location construction equipment rental company with branches in Ladson and Ridgeland, S.C. Volvo Rents recently bought another South Carolina company Blue Eagle Equipment, with facilities in Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg, S.C., which now gives the company six locations in the state.
According to ENR Southeast, a regional trade publication of McGraw-Hill Construction, South Carolina's final overall value for 2011 construction contracts was about $7.8 billion, a 12-percent increase. McGraw-Hill economists predict an 8-percent jump in construction activity in 2012.
“The Volvo name inspires confidence worldwide and will no doubt elevate our stores to the big leagues,” said Case Brabham, a 15-year rental industry veteran who co-founded Palmetto in 2001. Brabham will remain manager of both locations, and co-founder James Miller will stay on as sales manager.
Blue Eagle was founded by Robert Griffin in 2004. Griffin, a 26-year equipment rental veteran, will remain with the operations and management of the three locations as general manager and all 19 former Blue Eagle employees will continue with the company.
In Arizona, Volvo Rents acquired Arizona Rentals, a four-location former Volvo Rents franchise business with stores in Eloy, Miami, Thatcher and Tucson, Ariz. Volvo Rents now has five locations in Arizona, having recently acquired Phoenix-based Papé Rents.
“Arizona's construction industry is showing improvement, but a full recovery will take time,” said Jeff Bleeker, co-founder of Arizona Rentals. “You don't go from having a heart attack to running a marathon overnight. The problem is on its way to being resolved and we look forward to being a big part of that resolution.”
Bleeker will remain with Volvo Rents in a consulting role, while Arizona Rentals co-founder will continue as general manager of the four stores.
Volvo Rents, now with 101 locations in North America, is No. 17 on the RER 100.
